Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 9th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Humid air will bring extensive low cloud and bursts of showery rain to the mountains. However, in places breaks in the low cloud will allow sunshine through, whilst the cloud base will be very varied - making detail difficult. Windy northern and western Scottish Highlands.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy. Isolated rain, patches of low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 30 to mainly on Cairngorm plateau 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect considerable buffeting and wind chill across higher areas, particularly accessing Cairngorm plateau.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Isolated, probably brief, bursts of showery rain, total rainfall small.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive morning; increasing chance clearing some areas afternoon
Areas of fog across the hills from dawn, in some areas on lower slopes, in others only higher up. An improvement very likely, perhaps substantial as some or many higher areas clear in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud will tend to break, perhaps substantially in some areas (most likely Monadhliath east to Deeside) afternoon. Visibility mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to on higher slopes southwesterly; increasing markedly with height to a gusty 40mph or by late afternoon 50-60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Markedly increasing buffeting and wind chill with height. Balance and general mobility increasingly difficult on higher slopes.
How Wet?
Rain rarely
Rain occasionally or rarely - very little in total. Sleet above 750m - perhaps lower morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent nearly everywhere; lowest cloud base toward south
Generally persistent cloud above 600m, but northwards across Monadhliath and Cairngorms and across Deeside cloud base rising to 900m to 1100m - may sometimes clear summits accessed from and east of Braemar.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun mainly lower slopes north of about Dalwhinnie, perhaps extensive Deeside. Very good visibility although slight haze morning.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C - little temperature drop above 900m. Will feel as cold as minus 10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits - some terrain above 900m may be frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 11th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 8th Mar 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly up to 60mph post dawn; through day dropping slowly, typically 40 to 50mph middle of day, strongest far north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect significant or severe wind chill and walking - sometimes any mobility - to be very difficult across the hills.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Showers of hail and above 600m snow. Overall very few (and brief) reaching or east of Braemar, whilst most frequent west of A9. Risk whiteout.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensively covering higher areas.
In precipitation, cloud forming below 500 to 700m (generally lowest morning west of A9). Otherwise, by midday (as average cloud base tends to rise) between 800 and 1100m, highest eastern Cairngorms NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sunshine, particularly lower slopes near and east of A9 Poor visibility in snow; otherwise slight haze, but frequently very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Will feel like minus 15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
750m
Planning Outlook
Later this week - with the current mostly cloudy and hazy or murky conditions clearing on Tuesday night. Bouts of upland severe or storm force winds will reach the Scottish Highlands and gales periodically affecting other mountain areas. Freeze thaw cycles will occur on higher areas south from S Scotland whilst the Scottish Highlands experience infrequent thaw, with fresh snow sometimes reaching lower slopes, whilst extensive higher up.